Bangor, ME – In a shocking verdict, a federal jury yesterday found Darlene Ford, 58, of Monroe, guilty of running a massive marijuana operation from her home.
According to U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II, the operation was uncovered when agents executed a search warrant at Ford’s residence in November 2011.
Inside, they found a sophisticated indoor growing operation housing hundreds of marijuana plants, as well as two rifles.
The evidence presented in court revealed that Ford and her family members had conspired to cultivate and sell the marijuana, with Ford also aiding and abetting her husband’s possession of a firearm.
Ford now faces a lengthy prison sentence, with a maximum of 40 years behind bars for the conspiracy charge, 20 years for maintaining a drug-involved premises, and 10 years for aiding and abetting a felon in possession of a firearm.
She also faces a hefty fine of up to $5 million, as well as the forfeiture of her residence, which served as the epicenter of the operation.
The investigation was a collaborative effort involving the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Waldo County Sheriff’s Office, and the Maine State Police.
The guilty verdict marks a significant blow to the operation, and serves as a stern warning to those involved in large-scale marijuana trafficking.
Contact: Andrew McCormack, Assistant U.S. Attorney, (207) 945-0373.
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Key Facts
- State: Maine
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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